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OED welcomes Development Facilitation Officer Emily Lipoma

/ March 11, 2019 by Elisabeth Handler

Emily Lipoma, newly appointed OED Development Facilitation Officer

Moving to OED’s Business Development Division, Emily Lipoma is bringing her services as Development Facilitation Officer to the group, utilizing her extensive experience managing complex projects in the City of San Jose Planning Department.

Now located within Business Development, Emily will continue as the City’s liaison and guide to developers submitting major projects for planning review and permitting, and plays a key role in ensuring a successful development review process. She will also be expanding her responsibilities to help foster relationships with developers and encourage new investment throughout the city. Emily’s repositioned role as OED’s Development Facilitation Officer will report to Chris Burton, Deputy Director, OED.

During her six years with the City and the department of Planning, Building & Code Enforcement, Emily served as Development Coordinator, and oversaw teams of planners as a Senior Planner in entitlement review. She directed the transition from the Architectural Review Committee to the current Urban Design Review process, and for the last 18 months she has staffed the Ad Hoc Committee for Development Services. Emily joins OED having worked closely with both the nonprofit sector and the development community.

Emily holds a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies and Planning from University of California/San Diego and a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She is an AICP-certified planner with the American Planning Association. She has worked in varying roles in disaster mitigation efforts to build resilient communities but is also passionate about supporting arts and cultural expression within the city as a foundation in placemaking. A little known fact: one of her favorite vacations is maple-syrup tapping in New Hampshire.